Take-up for flexible connections.



O E. BAKER & E. M. DE LONG.

TAKE-UP FOR FLEXIBLE CONNECTIONS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8,1910.

1,126,1?6, Patented 26, 1915.

WITNESSES; M @q/ZlVEYTO/f. WW 944 W [0% AT ORNEY.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTD-LITHO. WASHINGTON, n. c

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CHARLES E. BAKER AND EVERETT M. DE LONG, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT,ASSIGN- ORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE NEW BRITAIN MACHINE COMPANY,OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATICN OF CONNECTICUT.

TAKE-UP FOR FLEXIBLE CONNECTIONS.

mam.

Application filed July 8, 1910.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES E. BAKER and Emnnr'r M. on Lone, citizensof the United States, and residents of Hartford, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement inTake-Ups for Flexible Connections, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to the class of devices by means of Which thelength of a fiexible connection may be varied, and the object of theinvention among others is to provide a device of this class that may bereadily and conveniently operated and by means of which the parts willbe firmly and securely held. This and other objects will presentthemselves from an examination of the device shown in the accompanyingdrawings illustrating one form of embodiment of our invention, in whichL Figure l is a view illustrating the manner of use of our improvedtakeup device. Fig. 2 is a detail view in central longitudinal sec tionthrough the device, the tubular section of the cord shown in Fig; lbeing omitted. F 3 is a detail view of the clamp holder. Fig. 4: is anend view of the same. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the clamp or wedgeholder showing the relative position of the parts.

While our invention is adapted for use with various forms of flenib'leconnection, it is especially applicable to flexible connections embodiedin the actuating mechanism of motor vehicles, and especiallymotorcycles, and such a connection is therefore shown and describedherein for the purpose of disclosure of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 6 denotes a bell-crank lever toone arm of which a connecting rod 7 is attached, which rod may extend tothe device to be actuated, as a brake, valve or the like. A sectionalclamp case composed of an outer section 8 and an inner section 9incloses a clamp or wedge holder 10. The outer section has a threadedmouth 11 with which the threaded end of the inner section engages, atapered clamping surface 12 extending from the mouth inward and anopening 13 leading from the tapered clamping surface to the end of thesection, the mouth, tapered surface and opening extending entirelythrough the section.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915. Serial No. 570,952.

The inner section of the casing has a cylindrical opening let with atapered clamping surface 15. The end of the inner section of the casingis cut away on opposite sides forming a fiat portion 5 that engageswithin the foil; 17 at the end of one of the arms of the bell-cranklever. A. hole 18 extends from the opening 14 to the outer surface ofthe case, through which hole a flexible connection 19 extends, thisbeing one end of the connection which extends through the clamp to ahandle or actuating lever for operating the parts, which handle oractuatmg lever is not shown herein as not bein essential to a thoroughunderstanding of the invention. The mouth 11 and the opening 1%constitute a chamber within the casing that incloses the clamp or wedgeholder.

The wedge or clamp holder 10 has a slot 20 formed longitudinally thereinand of a depth extending substantially to the center of the holder, thebottom of which is for the reception of the flexible connection 19. Inthe preferred form of construction and as shown herein this slot is of awidth substantially equal to the diameter of the connection, but this isnot absolutely essential, as the cord may be of any suitable size withrespect to the width of the slot. The holder at its central longitudinalpart is preferably of cylindrical form with tapered surfaces 21extending from each end of the cylindrical portion to the adjacent endof the holder.

A clamp is located within the slot 20, this clamp as to its outer edgepreferably conforming in shape to the outer surface of the holder andincluding tapered surfaces This clamp will be of such width that whenplaced in the slot and resting upon the flexible connection it willproject slightly beyond the outer surface of the holder. The taperedsurfaces 21 and 23 on the holder and clamp respectively conform to thebeveled clamp surfaces 12 and 15 within the sections of the casing, andit will be noted from the construction that by giving relative turningmovement to one of the case sections in a direction to draw themtogether the tapered surfaces 12 and 15 wedging against the taperedsurfaces 21 and 23 will drive the wedge firmly to its seat against theconnection, thus firmly securing the latter in place.

It will be found of advantage to form the bottom edge of the clamp withan irregular surface 26 as shown in Fig. 2, this imparting addedgripping power to the clamp.

When it is desired to take up the flexible connection a slight turningmovement of one case section with respect to the other will loosen thewedge when the end 24: of the cord may be grasped and the cord drawn tothe required extent through the takeup, and then by turning the casesections in the opposite direction the cord is quickly and securelytightened and held in place.

As this device finds ready use in connection with a cord of commonconstruction which consists of a flexible, tubular section within whichthe main cord is located, we provide a sleeve 25 extending from thecasing within which the tubular section of the cord will project, sothat as the takeup device is moved in the longitudinal movement of theinner section of the cord this will not result in an opening between theouter section of the cord and the takeup device, as the outer section ofthe cord will always remain within said sleeve.

Our invention may be embodied in constructions differing from that shownherein, and we do not therefore limit our invention to a deviceconstructed in exact accordance with that herein shown and described.

l Ve claim-- 1. A takeup casing including two members, one fitting andsecured within the other, said casing having a chamber tapered at eachend and having a hole opening from each end of the chamber to each endof the casing, a holder located within the casing and having its endstapered and having a slot extending therethrough, and a clamp in saidslot extending from end to end of the holder and having tapered surfacescon- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for forming in degree ofobliquity and length to the tapered surfaces on the walls of the casing.

2. A takeup casing having a chamber therein, and a clamping devicelocated within said chamber and arranged to clamp a member therein, theend of the casing as to its outer surface being cut-away on one sidethereof to a depth to intersect a line extending lengthwise of thecasing through said chamber, said casing having a hole extendinglengthwise of the casing from the chamber and opening into said cut-awayportion.

3. A takeup casing having a chamber therein, a clamping device locatedwithin said chamber and including a member having a lengthwise groove,and a clamping member located within the groove, said casing beingcutaway as to its outer surface on one side at the end thereof to adepth to intersect a line extending lengthwise of the casing throughsaid chamber, said casing also having a hole extending lengthwise of thecasing from said chamber and opening into said cutaway portion.

A. A takeup casing having a hole extending lengthwise therethrough, saidhole being enlarged to form a clamping chamber withr in the casing, aclamping device within said chamber for clamping a member extendingthrough said chamber, the end of the casing being cutaway as to itsouter surface at one end on the side thereof to a depth to intersect aline extending lengthwise through said hole and chamber.

CHARLES E. BAKER. EVERETT M. DE LONG. Witnesses:

LENA E. BnRKovrroH, G. B. LYNCH.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

